GCA Board of Directors

2020 Board of Directors

The Greenfield Community Association is governed by a community elected board of seven to thirteen volunteer Directors. They are elected annually to three year, staggered terms. Elections take place during GCA’s annual meeting in January.

Kristi Heidel serves as the President of Greenfield Community Association, Public Safety Committee Co-Chair and Special Events Committee Co-Chair. Kristi recently graduated from Duquesne University School of Law and received her Masters in Social Work from University of Pittsburgh in 2010. Kristi is an Investigator in the City Of Pittsburgh Office of Municipal Investigations. She has previously been employed as a certified legal intern in with the Pennsylvania Innocence Project and an Albert Schweitzer Fellow working with the Homeless Children’s Education Fund, Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, and the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Pittsburgh. In addition to work with indigent clients, Kristi volunteers with Greenfield Organized Against Drugs.

Joe Pegher is a lifelong Greenfield resident and local Realtor. He is currently the GCA Co-Chair of the Development and Transportation Committee. He lives in his childhood home with his wife Deanna, their 2 children as well as their 3 dogs. Joe attended both St Rosalia Grade School and Taylor Allderdice High School. After getting a degree in 1985, he moved to Washington DC to work for Xerox Corporation. 6 years later, the opportunity to return home presented itself and he has since started a new career in real estate. He has enjoyed working on various community projects over the years and looks forward to improving Greenfield while still retaining the traditions and qualities that have made it one of the city’s best neighborhoods.

Jesse Sharrard joined the GCA Board in 2018 and has been a Greenfield resident and homeowner since 2003. He’s quite happy with the changes that the neighborhood has experienced in the past 15 years, thanks in great part to the active neighborhood involvement that makes Greenfield be one of the most livable neighborhoods in Pittsburgh. Jesse works in Hazelwood as Nutrition & Compliance Manager for Community Kitchen Pittsburgh where he plans menus and teach classes to help students facing significant challenges to qualify and obtain stable employment in the culinary sector. Past board and committee experiences include Greenfield PTO, where Jesse advocated for an afterschool program that was eventually adopted; Connect Greenfield; East End Food Co-Op; and Frick Park Lawn Bowling Club.

Phyllis Cox and her husband have lived in “The Run” for the last seven years where they’ve learned about the community and attended meetings regarding needs in The Run. She has a BA in Business Administration from Midway College, Midway, Kentucky and a Masters degree in Business Administration from Sullivan University in Louisville, KY, has worked with the medical community, funeral services, legal and printing and is currently working for her husband as his office manager in a podiatric practice in the Mon Valley area. Phyllis brings the voice of The Run to the GCA Board and active participation in the greater community.

David Cashmere has been an active member of the Public Space Committee since 2012, the committee that keeps our public spaces and gardens looking clean and green. As a direct liaison with both the University of Pittsburgh and Western PA Conservancy, he’s organized volunteers and events for clean-ups and plantings. In 2017 he received GCA’s “Get It Done” Award.

David is a veteran of the United States Navy and earned his degree from University of Pittsburgh in Psychology and Neuroscience. He’s worked at Western Psychiatric for over 26 years in the Sleep and Behavioral Neuroscience Center and has lived in Greenfield since 1998. David is a compassionate and giving person who also volunteers with the Animal Rescue League in his spare time.

Ed Goyda has been a Greenfield resident for 42 years. Ed has been an active member of the Public Space Committee since its inception, working on the Portal Project, painting project at Irvine Street Pump Station and Hassett Parklet. Ed also volunteers at St. Rosalia Church and Festival. In 2016 he received the “Get It Done” Award for his hard work in all of Greenfield’s Public Spaces.

Brittany Banks and her partner Amy moved to Greenfield in 2017 and look forward to the coming years in their do-it-yourself home. Originally from the Midwest, Brittany moved to Pittsburgh to pursue her Masters Degree of Social Work. Upon completion Brittany worked in schools and the community as a mental health therapist. Currently Brittany is the Social and Emotional Learning Coordinator for a Pittsburgh social services agency and promotes emotional intelligence to at-risk youth. You can likely find Brittany tackling home projects or relaxing with her dogs if she is not at work.

Matt Mahoney grew up in a small coal town north of Pittsburgh and graduated from Slippery Rock University. He spent 20+ years working in a variety of fields from cooking to retail to military service to teaching English overseas, etc. etc. Currently Matt is on track to complete his Masters Degree in Renewable Energy and Sustainable Systems from Penn State in mid-2019 while working as a Program Manager for Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance. Matt and his wife moved to Greenfield in 2012 where they’ve enjoyed raising their kids Ember and Soleil in a warm and inviting community.

Andrea Youngo has been a homeowner in Greenfield since 2013. She gained interest in the GCA board from her involvement in the GCA Communications Committee and is currently the writer of the GCA monthly newsletter. Andrea has Bachelor’s degrees in Marketing and Communications from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Point Park University. She brings six plus years of change management experience to her role as a Change Management Execution Consultant at Highmark Health. In her spare time she volunteers with the University of Pittsburgh Alumnae Council and the Venture Outdoors Junior Board. Andrea values being a member of the Greenfield community, and wishes to remain on the board to continue expand and enhance the experiences off all of its residents!

Ben Anglin moved to Greenfield in 2018 with his wife and two kids and has found the neighborhood to be safe, friendly, and an enjoyable place to live. Ben moved to Pittsburgh in 2008 to attend graduate school at Carnegie Mellon. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and Masters and Doctoral degrees from Carnegie Mellon – all in Materials Science and Engineering. Ben has always had a passion for volunteering, including joining the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity at Purdue and volunteering at two local middle schools doing STEM outreach. When he is not at work, Ben can be found at home doing DIY house projects or playing outside or at the playground with his family. He hopes to join the GCA board of directors to help ensure Greenfield remains a safe, friendly, and enjoyable neighborhood to live.

Jesse Exilus was born and raised in South Florida. He moved to Pittsburgh in 2013 to complete his legal studies at the University of Pittsburgh. Later, Jesse moved to Greenfield in 2017 with his wife, Tara. He currently works as a Real Estate Specialist at Crown Castle and volunteers his time as a mentor with Big Brothers & Big Sisters and as Treasurer of the Allegheny County Bar Association Homer S. Brown Division. When at home, he enjoys working on his garden, cooking international cuisine, baking bread, and riding his bike. This year Jesse is looking forward to the birth of his daughter in May and is passing the time until then by participating in an improv class downtown.

Barb Warwick is a resident of Four Mile Run. She, her husband and their four kids moved to Greenfield in 2014 and now own five houses in the neighborhood. Barb works from home for my very small business – Four Mile Run Communications – which offers writing and editing services. Although not a Pittsburgh native, Barb feels so lucky to be a part of this wonderful community. Between work and kids, she volunteers as an after school teacher at The Pittsburgh Project, co-leads a Girl Scouts troop, and is actively involved in trying to keep the City from building a “mobility trail” for privately-operated shuttles through The Run and Schenley Park. Barb is enthusiastic about Pittsburgh’s potential to grow and thrive, but understands that that growth must happen in an equitable manner that provides opportunity and protection for today’s residents as well as future ones. Barb believes that community associations like the GCA play a critical role in making that possible. If elected to the GCA Board, Barb promises to advocate for you – the people of Greenfield – and to work closely with other board members, community organizations, and the City to help ensure that your needs are met and your voices are heard. Thank you.

Christa Jones is currently the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Information Networking Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. She holds a Master of Science Degree in Media Arts and Technology and a Master of Arts Degree in Psychology from Duquesne University.

She has participated in numerous Greenfield community cleanups, public space art mural and Greenfield welcome portal initiatives. Christa has volunteered her time and experience in creating the Greenfield Community Association Logo and website.

She has been recognized multiple times for her leadership and continuous excellence by Carnegie Mellon University and in 2014 was awarded the Greenfield Community Award for Outstanding Achievement in Voluntary Service.

She is a member of the Allderdice Hall of Fame committee and NCWIT (National Center for Women and Information Technology) Western PA Aspirations committee.

Christa is passionate and dedicated to strengthening her neighborhood, supporting community and volunteering time to create positive outcomes.